TW201608911A - Special cell selection at secondary network nodes supporting dual connectivity - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer program, network node and method performed at a secondary network node within a wireless communication network supporting dual connectivity, such that a user equipment may communicate with a master network node and a secondary network node at a same time, the secondary network node supporting a plurality of cells. The method comprising: determining at the secondary network node that a configuration of one of the plurality of cells as a special cell for the user equipment such that the special cell provides predetermined functionality should be transferred to another one of the plurality of cells; and in response to the determining step, transmitting a request for a change in special cell towards the master network node.

Description

Special cell selection for secondary network nodes supporting dual links

The field of the invention relates to wireless communication networks and is particularly relevant to wireless communication networks that support dual connectivity, wherein user equipment can simultaneously communicate with primary network nodes and secondary network nodes.

It is known that user equipment can consume dual connectivity of radio resources provided by more than one network node. One of the network nodes operates as a primary network node and implements transmission system information, management connections, and data layer and control plane signaling using the user equipment to implement RRC radio resource configuration signaling. The other network nodes (etc.) are secondary network nodes (etc.) and communicate with the user equipment at the data level, and may receive configuration information required to perform this from the primary network node via the backhaul link. This backhaul communication link has a delay associated with it, and thus control transmissions related to data transmission, such as reply messages, are transmitted and transmitted directly by the secondary network node itself. Therefore, additional PUCCH entity uplink control that allows such messages to be transmitted directly from the user equipment to the secondary network node The channel is provided to the secondary network node.

In the case where the secondary network node has a number of carriers supporting a plurality of cells of the UE for communication with, the cells are used for UEs with which they will communicate later, and the particular cell may be received for PUCCH that communicates with the UE. A cell configured to receive this control channel is called a special cell. The problem can arise when the quality of the signal from the particular cell is degraded.

It would be desirable to be able to change the cell configured as a special cell at the secondary network node without unduly interrupting the ongoing UF communication with the secondary network node.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a method for implementing a secondary network node in a wireless communication network supporting dual connectivity, such that the user equipment can communicate with a primary network node and a secondary network node, the secondary network The waypoint node supports a plurality of cells, the method comprising: determining, by the secondary network node, the secondary network node that should serve as a special cell for the user equipment to provide the predetermined cell with a predetermined function The configuration of the supported cells is transferred to the other of the plurality of cells; and in response to the determining step, a request for a change in the particular cell is transmitted towards the primary network node.

The present invention recognizes that a cell having a special cell function can be changed such that the other cell supported by the secondary network node becomes a desirable condition for the particular cell of the user device. It is also recognized that when a secondary network node can have limited channel quality of such different cells or no channel quality visibility, the question arises as to which cell to select for use as a new special cell. another In addition, the primary network node, rather than the secondary network node, controls the measurement of the connection to the user equipment, and thus the secondary network node itself cannot control such changes without communicating with the primary network node.

There are currently secondary network node change procedures that can be used to obtain information about the quality of the channel signal quality of different cells and update the configuration information of the connection. However, this procedure results in user level interruption and is at the primary network node. Under the control.

These problems have been solved by the present invention by introducing a special cell change request transmitted by the secondary network node to the primary network node when it is decided that there should be a change in the particular cell. The present invention recognizes that the primary network node not only controls the configuration of the connection with the user equipment, but also receives measurement information related to channel quality from the user equipment. Therefore, by providing this additional request, the request to change the current special cell notification has a primary network node with access to the measurement information and control of the configuration of the user device connection with the network node, and can Therefore action.

In some embodiments, the method further includes determining which of the plurality of cells would be a suitable candidate cell for use as a special cell and transmitting a list of at least one candidate cell in the change request.

In some cases, the secondary network node determines which of the plurality of cells it supports will use the appropriate candidate cells for the particular cell used to communicate with the user equipment and transmit the candidate cells with the change request. A list of meta tags may be desirable.

In some embodiments, the change request further includes a request for at least a portion of the measurement information of the cells.

As previously mentioned, when receiving measurement information related to channel quality from a user equipment of a primary network node, the secondary network node may have limited channel quality of the channels of the various cells it supports or actually No channel quality visibility. This information is needed to determine when a particular cell is to be used as a special cell, and therefore this information is needed in situations where the secondary network node produces this determination. Therefore, the measurement information can be requested from the network node for at least part of the cells. When the list of candidate cells has been transmitted in the change request, then when there are cells under consideration, the measurement information of such cells may be requested. In other embodiments, measurement information for all of such cells can be received.

While the request to measure information may be transmitted using a change request, in some embodiments it may be transmitted at other times, perhaps periodically, and in such a case, the requested information may be for all cells or for cells. A subset of the candidate cells may be targeted to the candidate cell if the request is changed immediately or in the desired situation. In such a situation where the secondary network node has measurement information prior to transmitting the change request, then in some embodiments, the secondary network node may use the change request to indicate a preferred special cell.

With regard to this problem, the measurement information may be related to the quality of the signal received by the user equipment that is received by the secondary network node of the cell supported by the free network node.

In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving the measurement information from the primary network node; and selecting one of the cells as a new special cell according to the received measurement information; and facing the primary network The node transmits the selection.

In some cases, in response to the secondary network node receiving measurement information from the primary network node, a selection of new special cells is implemented thereon. When the primary network node controls the configuration of the connection with the user equipment, once this selection has been made, the selection is transmitted to the primary network node. In this way, the secondary network node controls the change process and can select the preferred special cell. This may be advantageous when the secondary network node is in communication with an unknown primary network node that may be supplied by a different vendor with unknown characteristics.

The special cell selection can be transmitted as part of the secondary network node modification request. In some embodiments, the primary network node may transmit measurement information in response to the change request, and the secondary network node can use this information to select a particular cell and transmit its selection as part of the special cell modification request. Such a request triggers a secondary network node modification procedure. With regard to this problem, the selected change in the particular cell can be transmitted by the secondary network node as part of the resource reconfiguration channel container indicating the transmission in the special cell in the modification request. change. Using the modification procedure in this manner allows the user equipment to be notified via the primary network node of the cell's new special cell, and configuration information for where the cell includes the function supported by the cell, such as , uplink control channel.

In some embodiments, the measurement information is received from the primary network node as part of a secondary network node modification request, and the selection is transmitted as a change in the particular cell of the secondary network node The indication is transmitted as part of the response to the secondary network node modification request.

In some cases, the special cell change request may trigger a secondary network node modification procedure initiated by the primary network node, and in this case, the measurement resource The message can be received from the primary network node as part of the secondary network node modification request transmitted by the node. In this case, the selection of the particular cell is transmitted as part of the response to the secondary network node modification request. Again, this can be provided in the RRC container and can then be used by the primary network node to reconfigure the connection to the user device.

In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving a secondary network node join request from the network node, the secondary network node joining the secondary network node requesting to support the at least one cell, and One of the at least one cell is designated as the particular cell.

In some cases, the receipt of a change request may trigger the primary network node to initiate a network node join procedure instead of triggering a network node modification procedure. Regarding this problem, in the embodiment where the secondary network node receives the measurement information from the primary network node and selects one of the cells as a special cell and transmits the selection to the primary network node, The primary network node can choose to trigger either the secondary network node join procedure or the secondary network node modification procedure. In the case where the secondary network node joins the program, the secondary network node receives the release and join request and responds with information on one or more of the cells it supports, one of which will be designated as a new special Cell. The primary network node may have selected a particular cell, or it may have received a selection from the secondary network node using the change request or after some other transmission including transmission of the user device measurement information. Regarding this issue, the secondary network node will know that the join request is for the user device that has been configured for it, so it will maintain the bearer that communicates with the user device and will not lose the data plane connection, however, It will function as a new special cell Transfer to the cell. It also transmits configuration information related to the cell in the join request response to the primary network node.

In some cases, the particular cell specified by the join request will have been selected by the secondary network node, while in other cases it will have been selected by the primary network node. In the case where the primary network node has selected the cell, it may do so from the list of candidate cells that have been provided using the special cell change request and possibly by looking at the information that has been accessed from the user device. In either case, the join procedure is triggered and the secondary network node receives a join request indicating that one of the cells supported by the secondary network node is a new special cell.

In some embodiments, the method further includes transmitting, to the primary network node, an indication of a change in the particular cell of the secondary network node as part of the response to the join request.

The join request is answered and an indication of the change in the particular cell of the secondary network node is provided as part of this response. This may take the form of configuration information for this cell or the form of an RRC container that provides this information.

In some embodiments, in addition to transmitting an indication of a change in the particular cell of the secondary network node, the secondary network node does not transfer or delete from the secondary network node associated with the user equipment Hosted.

Typically, receiving a join request at a network node after the release request triggers a path exchange associated with transferring/deleting bearers from the network node and signaling or data preamble associated with such change procedures. However, the secondary network node is configured not to implement such procedures in response to the join request, since the join request is explicitly referred to It should not be implemented or because the secondary network node determines that it has been configured for the user equipment associated with the join request.

In some embodiments, the plurality of cells comprise a special cell group comprising at least one cell supported by the secondary network node and configured for the UE, the special cell containing One of the cells of the group of cells.

One or more cells supported by the secondary network node may be configured for the UE and referred to as SCG cells. A particular cell should be one of these cells, and in the case of only one cell, the cell should be a special cell. However, in the case of more than one cell, a particular cell can be changed from one SCG cell to another.

In some embodiments, the step of determining that the configuration as a cell of a particular cell should be transferred to the other of the plurality of cells comprises at least one of: determining a heavy load on the particular cell; The primary network node receives the request; the measurement information received from the primary network node determines the low channel quality for the particular cell.

There are secondary network nodes that can determine the various reasons why a particular cell should be changed. Such reasons may include heavy loading on the particular particular cell, receiving a request from the primary network node, or determining the low channel quality of the particular cell. The latter will typically be completed from the measurement information received from the primary network node.

A second aspect of the present invention includes a method of implementing a primary network node in a dual connectivity wireless communication network such that the user device can communicate with a primary network node and a secondary network node, the secondary network The node supports a plurality of cells, the method comprising: receiving an indication at the primary network node The secondary network node supports a configuration request for a particular cell such that the cell providing the predetermined function should be transferred to the other of the plurality of cells; in response to the change request, the secondary network Transmitting, or transmitting, to the secondary network node; and transmitting a radio resource connection reconfiguration request to the user equipment; and when the reconfiguration process is completed, indicating to the time Want a network node.

A primary network node acting in dual connectivity controls the connection to the user equipment, and when it receives a change request from the secondary network node indicating a change in the particular cell, this may trigger its transmission of the secondary network node Modify or a secondary network node to join any of the requests. Regarding this issue, any program can provide the required changes in a particular cell. Once such a request has been transmitted, an indicator that the particular cell has changed will be received at the primary network node, and this may take the form of a new configuration of RRC information indicating the particular cell. The primary network node then notifies the user equipment by transmitting a radio resource connection reconfiguration request to the user equipment and will indicate to the secondary network node when this reconfiguration process is complete.

In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving, at the primary network node, the special cell designated at the secondary network node before transmitting the radio resource connection reconfiguration request to the user equipment Radio resource configuration information changed in the cell.

The radio resource configuration information for the change can be received from the secondary network node. This can be used to join or modify the response of the request or as part of a change request.

In some embodiments, the radio resource connection reconfiguration request is transmitted The input is a release and join request requesting release and join of the secondary network node, the join request including parameters identifying the new special cell.

In the event that the primary network node triggers the secondary network node join procedure, the radio resource reconnection reconfiguration request is transmitted as a release and join request. Regarding this problem, when the secondary network node recognizes that it has the configuration information for the user equipment to be joined, it does not release the bearer for the UE, but uses the reply reply to the join request for transmission for the new Configuration information for special cells. In this way, the configuration parameters can update and identify new special cells. It can be done without losing the connection.

In some embodiments, the radio resource reconfiguration request includes a secondary network node modification request for modifying parameters associated with the secondary network node, the modification request including parameters identifying the new special cell.

In the case where the primary network node has selected the network node modification procedure, it transmits the radio resource reconfiguration request to include the modified parameters associated with the secondary network node and includes information identifying the new special cell. The secondary network node modifies the request, allowing the special cell to be updated without losing the connection.

The third aspect includes a computer program operative to control a computer to perform the method according to the first aspect of the invention or the second aspect of the invention.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a network node for use in a secondary network node in a wireless communication network supporting dual connectivity, such that the user equipment can communicate with a primary network node and a secondary network node, the network The waypoint node is operable to support a plurality of cells, the network node comprising: decision logic operable to determine that the particular cell should be used as the user device The designation of one of the plurality of cells providing the predetermined function to the other of the plurality of cells; and communication logic operative to determine that the particular cell should change, in response to the decision logic The primary network node transmits a request for a change in a particular cell.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a network node for use as a primary network node in a wireless communication network supporting dual connectivity, such that user equipment can communicate with primary network nodes and secondary network nodes, the secondary The network node supports a plurality of cells, the network node including: receiving logic operable to receive a designation indicating that a cell supported by the secondary network node as a special cell such that it provides a predetermined function should be transferred to the a change request of the other of the plurality of cells; the transfer logic operable to respond to the change request, transmitting the secondary network node modification and the secondary network node joining the request to the secondary network node; Wherein the receiving logic is operative to receive radio resource configuration information indicative of a change in a cell of the particular cell of the secondary network node; and the transmitting logic is operative to respond to the radio information configuration Receiving information, transmitting a radio resource reconfiguration request to the user equipment, and indicating to the secondary network node when the reconfiguration process is complete.

Other specific or preferred aspects are set forth in the accompanying independent and dependent patent applications. The characteristics of the attached patent application may be combined with the characteristics of the independent patent application and may be combined with items other than those clearly stated in the scope of the patent application.

When a device characteristic is described as being operable to provide a function, it will be understood that this includes a device that provides the function or is adapted or configured to provide the function. Sex.

20‧‧‧Main network node MeNB

30‧‧‧Small network nodes

50‧‧‧User equipment

C1, c2, c3‧‧‧ carrier frequency

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 depict a particular cell change scenario; FIG. 2 depicts a particular cell change of the SeNB modification procedure initiated using the SeNB; 3 depicts a particular cell change using the MeNB initiated SeNB modification procedure; Figure 4 depicts a particular cell change using the SeNB change procedure; Figure 5 depicts a particular cell change using other SeNB change procedures; and Figure 6 depicts the giant primary network A secondary node and a secondary network node containing a plurality of small cells.

Before discussing the example embodiments in more detail, an overview will first be provided.

Dual connectivity where the user equipment simultaneously communicates with the two network nodes and consumes their radio resources has been standardized in 3GPP. Dual connectivity involves the UE being simultaneously connected to the primary (MeNB) and secondary eNB (SeNB). There are special cells in the SeNB that are responsible for special functions, such as PUCCH resources.

According to the current protocol of 3GPP, the special cell change depends on the SeNB. For example, if two or more secondary SCells are targeted for a particular user The SeNB configuration of the device, the SeNB can configure one of the SCells as a special cell. Similarly, the SeNB can change a particular cell to another configured SCell. In order for the SeNB to generate a special cell change decision, the SeNB needs channel quality information corresponding to the SCell. Channel quality information is available at the SeNB for the configured SCell.

However, there are cases where the SeNB must change the special cell to a non-configured cell belonging to the same SeNB. This is the case where only one cell is configured for the SeNB, for example, due to UE capacity limitations. In the above scenario, according to the current protocol of 3GPP, the channel quality information of the non-configured cells is not available at the SeNB. Therefore, the SeNB is unable to generate the correct decision for a particular cell change, thus causing the service to be interrupted by the UE.

It would be desirable to provide a method of changing a particular cell to a non-configured cell of the same SeNB without interrupting ongoing UE communication to the SeNB.

One available solution follows the SeNB change procedure, where the SeNB changes under the control of the primary network node and configuration information that is updated to allow configuration of new special cells. When the same eNB is involved before and after the SeNB change, the overall change procedure is unnecessary and this can result in user level interruption. In addition, it may be advantageous to allow the SeNB to be responsible for its radio resources and to provide independent SeNB operations in an inter-vendor interworking deployment scenario where small cells from one vendor are placed in another vendor's mega network.

In short, the above problems can be solved by at least one of the following:

1) The SeNB is responsible for special cell changes and requests/deciments when and which cells are used for this particular cell change.

2) The SeNB informs the MeNB of the special cell change request/decision.

3) The SeNB may request the measurement information of the candidate special cell list from the MeNB. This can occur in conjunction with (or before or at any time) a particular cell change request or independently.

4) The MeNB requests an action according to the SeNB.

According to the dual connectivity concept, the SeNB has a special cell configuration with certain primary PCell-class functions, such as control of UL PUCCH resources, and DL RAR (random access request) transmission for PRACH procedures implemented on the SeNB. Wait. While configuring the SCG (Secondary Cell Group), the special cells of the SeNB are always active. Special cells can vary for a variety of reasons, such as overload conditions, and poor radio conditions.

If only one SCG cell is configured for the UE, the cell is a special cell. However, when more than one SCG secondary SCell is configured for the UE, the particular cell can change from one SCG cell to another. The special cell change procedure for changing from one configured SCell to another is called a special cell change procedure.

Another scenario in which a particular SCG cell change is that the UE is configured with only one SCG cell belonging to the SeNB, and the UE is to be reconfigured with another cell of the same SeNB. Even if there are other SeNB cells suitable for the UE, it is possible for the SCG to be configured with only one cell. However, UE capacity can limit the number of configurations of SCG cells. When a special SCG cell change is triggered, the network may need to change the special SCG cell to another cell of the SeNB that was not configured for the UE prior to the particular cell change. Considering that the same SeNB is involved before and after the special cell change, this is also called special SCG. Cell change program. The SeNB may trigger a change in a particular SCG cell due to its PUCCH load or based on RRM (Radio Resource Management) decisions. The special cell change scene is depicted in Figure 1. Scenario A) is the change of a particular cell to another configured cell of the SeNB. Scenario B) is a special cell change to a non-configured cell of the SeNB.

When a special SCG cell change is triggered, a measurement report is useful to the SeNB on the corresponding SeNB cell to properly select the particular cell, i.e., select a cell with good channel quality.

The special cell change program according to the first embodiment is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The SeNB generates a decision for a particular cell change. In the scenario where the SeNB does not have the latest measurement information of the candidate special cell, the decision is communicated to the MeNB, and the SeNB may include a list of candidate special cells in the message to the MeNB. Upon receiving this request message indicating the SeNB decision for the special cell change, the MeNB may follow the two methods of assisting the special cell change.

In method 1 shown in FIG. 2, the MeNB provides measurement information of the requested candidate special cells to the SeNB. After taking the cell measurements into consideration, the SeNB selects a new special cell. This allows for selection under the control of the secondary network node, which is advantageous in situations where this node is within the network of another provider.

The SeNB can then inform the UE of the new configuration corresponding to the particular cell change via the SeNB modification procedure initiated by the SeNB. Based on the SeNB modification procedure initiated by the SeNB, the SeNB provides a new SeNB radio configuration to the UE via the MeNB, which is transmitted from the SeNB to the MeNB in the RRC container. MeNB through RRCConnectionReconfiguration The message signals a new RRC configuration to the UE.

In another method of transmitting a special cell to the UE by the MeNB, the reconfiguration of the special cell change can be completed by special deletion and joining of the same secondary network node; the special deletion and joining process This is done as part of a single program that does not cause the bearer to be transferred from the secondary network node. The new SeNB configuration portion of the message is provided by the SeNB in the RRC container, while the release of the SeNB portion of the message is generated by the MeNB.

When applying the new configuration, the UE transmits an RRCConnectionReconfigurationComplete message to the MeNB. The MeNB forwards the RRC connection reconfiguration completion information to the SeNB. The UE obtains UL uplink synchronization to the SeNB with a new radio configuration by implementing a random access procedure.

In the method 2 shown in FIG. 3, upon receiving the SeNB message including the SeNB decision changing the special cell and the candidate special cell, the MeNB initiates the special cell change using the SeNB modification procedure initiated by the MeNB. The MeNB transmits the SeNB modification request along with the candidate special cells, and/or the measurement information of all the configured cells of the SeNB to the SeNB. The SeNB modifies the request response reply using the SeNB including the radio configuration parameters corresponding to the new special cell. The MeNB implements RRC connection reconfiguration towards the UE in a similar manner to Method 1. Upon receiving the RRCConnectionReconfigurationComplete message, the MeNB transmits the SeNB modification completion message to the SeNB.

The special cell change program according to the second embodiment is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the SeNB generates a decision to change the special cell and provides the MeNB with the list of selected or candidate special cells. Receiving At the time of this message, the MeNB uses the SeNB to change procedures to implement special cell changes. The MeNB initiates the SeNB change procedure by transmitting the SeNB join request and as the selected special cell selected from the Scell of the measurement list. Therefore, in this case, the selection is implemented by the MeNB. The SeNB configures the selected cells as special cells and implements the SeNB configuration for the UE. It should be noted that when the SeNB has previously configured the UE, the UE context is available at the SeNB. The SeNB interprets the reception of the SeNB join request of the same UE as an indication of the change procedure within the SeNB. Therefore, the transfer/delete of the bearer from the SeNB, the path exchange related to the signaling or data preamble associated with the change procedure in the SeNB is not implemented by the SeNB.

Instead of the implicit indication of inter-eNB changes as described above, in an embodiment, a clear indication of inter-eNB changes is provided from the MeNB. Therefore, the SeNB join request message also carries a change indication within the SeNB. Similar to the implicit indication-based procedure described above, the transfer/delete of bearers from the SeNB, the path exchange associated with the signaling or data preamble associated with the change procedure within the SeNB is not implemented by the SeNB.

Another variation of this second embodiment is shown in FIG. In this case, the measurement information of the candidate particular cell is requested by the SeNB before deciding which becomes the particular cell. Alternatively, the MeNB may provide a measurement report to the SeNB periodically or based on certain events. The SeNB can use this information to predetermine new special cells.

When requested by the SeNB as discussed above, the MeNB implements an SeNB change procedure to change the special cell.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the primary network node responds to the special cell The meta change request transmits measurement information to the secondary network node, and the SeNB generates a decision on the special cell and notifies the MeNB of the decision. At this time, the MeNB can use the cell change procedure by transmitting the join request to the SeNB that is aware of the UE that has been configured for it, such as the procedures shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or by transmitting with and for The RRC connection ReconfigurationRequest of the information about the new reconfiguration of the cell to the UE, as implemented in the second half of the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, makes the change.

In an alternate embodiment of the embodiment shown in Figures 2 through 5, there may be some instances where the secondary network node itself selects a particular cell without the need to transmit measurement information. This may be, for example, the case where the exchange decision is made on other considerations, such as knowing the geo-geographic cell area, or some measurement information is already available at the secondary network node. In this case, the request signal is transmitted by the secondary network node using an RRC container that provides details of the selected particular cell. This avoids the need to transmit measurement information and secondary network nodes to respond using the RRC container, so that such steps in the methods of Figures 2 through 5 can be omitted in such specific situations.

Figure 6 shows schematically the macro network node and is connected to the user equipment 50, and the control connection is such that the primary network node MeNB 20 in which the RRC communication of the connection is configured is implemented. There is also a small network node 30 that functions as a secondary network node SeNB for the user equipment 50 and that can transmit and receive data from the user equipment 50. The configuration information that allows this connection is controlled by the primary network node 20 that communicates with the secondary network node 30 via the backhaul link. Network node 30 supports a plurality of cells having different carrier frequencies c1, c2, and c3. One of these c1s is configured for connection to the UE 50 The special cell and control the uplink control resources used for the data connection provided by the PUCCH entity uplink control channel in this embodiment. When the SeNB 30 determines that the load of the cell c1 becomes high, it may wish to change the cell configured as a special cell. To this end, it transmits a special cell change request to the primary network node 20, and in response to this, as shown in Figures 2 to 5, the primary network node 20 triggers a cell modification or join procedure that allows it to be accessed from the secondary network. The waypoint 30 takes the configuration information associated with the new special cell and transmits this information to the user device. In this way, the connection is configured such that control of the PUCCH resources is transferred to a different one for connecting to the cell c2 or c3 of the UE 50.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the steps of the various methods described above can be implemented by a programmable computer. Herein, some embodiments are also considered to encompass a program storage device, such as a machine or computer readable digital data storage medium, and encode a program of machine executable or computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions implement the above method Part or all of the steps. The program storage device can be a digital memory, a magnetic storage medium such as a magnetic disk and a magnetic tape, a hard disk, or an optically readable data storage medium. These embodiments are also considered to encompass computers that are stylized to perform the steps of the above methods.

The functions of the various elements shown in the figures including any functional blocks labeled "processor" or "logic" may be provided by the use of the exclusive hardware and hardware capable of executing the software associated with the appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of independent processors, a portion of which may be shared. Furthermore, the term "processor" or "controller" or The obvious use of "logic" should not constitute an exclusive reference to the hardware that can execute the software, and can include, without limitation, a digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, a network processor, and a specific application integrated circuit ( ASIC), field effect programmable gate array (FPGA), read-only memory (ROM) for storing software, random access memory (RAM), and non-volatile memory. Other conventional and/or customized hardware may also be included. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their functions may be carried out through the operation of program logic, via proprietary logic, via program control and exclusive logic, or even manually. The specific techniques that can be selected by the actual author are more specifically understood from the disclosure herein.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any block herein represents a conceptual diagram of a circuit having the principles of the present invention. Similarly, it will be understood that any flowchart, flowchart, state transition diagram, and virtual code, etc., may be embodied in a computer-readable medium, and whether or not the computer or processor is clearly displayed, by such computer or processing Various processing performed by the device.

The description and drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Therefore, it will be understood that those skilled in the <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; In addition, all of the examples set forth herein are expressly considered to be for teaching purposes only in order to assist the reader in understanding the principles and concepts of the present invention provided by the present inventors, etc., to further develop the present technology and to The examples and conditions of the specific statements are not limited. In addition, the principles, embodiments, and embodiments of the present invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are considered to include equivalents thereof.

Claims (15)

A method of implementing a secondary network node in a wireless communication network supporting dual connectivity, such that the user equipment can communicate with a primary network node and a secondary network node, the secondary network node supporting a plurality of cells, The method includes: at the secondary network node, deciding that a configuration of one of the plurality of cells that is a special cell for the user device to cause the special cell to provide a predetermined function should be transferred to the complex number The other of the cells; and in response to the determining step, transmitting a request for the change in the particular cell towards the primary network node. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining which of the plurality of cells is a suitable candidate cell for use as a special cell, and transmitting a list of at least one candidate cell in the change request. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the change request further comprises a request for at least a portion of the measurement information of the cells. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising transmitting a request for measurement information for at least a portion of the plurality of cells toward the network node. The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: receiving the measurement information from the primary network node; and selecting one of the cells as a new special cell based on the received measurement information; The selection is transmitted towards the primary network node. For example, the method of claim 5, wherein the selection is transmitted as An indication of the change in the particular cell of the secondary network node and transmitted as part of the secondary network node modification request. The method of claim 5, wherein the measurement information is received from the primary network node as part of a secondary network node modification request, and the selection is transmitted as the special at the secondary network node An indication of the change in the cell and transmitted as part of the response to the secondary network node modification request. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising receiving a secondary network node join request from the primary network node, the secondary network node joining request request supporting at least one of the cells The joining of the network node and the designation of one of the at least one cell as a new special cell; and the change in the particular cell of the secondary network node as part of the response to the join request The indication is transmitted to the primary network node, and the bearer associated with the user equipment is not transferred or deleted from the secondary network node. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the step of determining that the configuration as a cell of a particular cell should be transferred to the other of the plurality of cells comprises at least one of the following: a heavy load on the particular cell; receiving a request from the primary network node; and determining a low channel quality for the particular cell from measurement information received from the primary network node. A primary network in a wireless communication network that supports dual connectivity The method implemented by the node enables the user equipment to communicate with the primary network node and the secondary network node, the secondary network node supporting a plurality of cells, the method comprising: receiving an indication at the primary network node by the time The configuration in which the network node supports the cell that provides the predetermined function for the special cell should be transferred to the other of the plurality of cells; in response to the change request, the secondary network node is modified Or transmitting, by the secondary network node, the request to the secondary network node; and transmitting a radio resource connection reconfiguration request to the user equipment; and when the reconfiguration process is completed, indicating to the secondary network Road node. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving, at the primary network node, the indication at the primary network node prior to transmitting the radio resource connection reconfiguration request to the user equipment Radio resource configuration information for changes in the cells of the cell. The method of claim 11, wherein the radio resource connection reconfiguration request includes one of: a release and join request requesting release and join of the secondary network node, the join request including identifying a new special cell And a secondary network node modification request for modifying parameters related to the secondary network node, the modification request including parameters identifying the new special cell. A computer program, when executed by a computer, operable to control the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 12. A secondary use in a wireless communication network that supports dual connectivity The network node of the network node enables the user equipment to communicate with the primary network node and the secondary network node, the network node being operable to support a plurality of cells, the network node comprising: decision logic operable Determining that the configuration of one of the plurality of cells as a special cell for the user device such that the particular cell provides a predetermined function is transferred to the other of the plurality of cells; and communication Logic, operable to respond to the decision logic to determine that the particular cell should change, transmitting a request for the change in the particular cell towards the primary network node. A network node that is used to support a primary network node in a dual-connected wireless communication network, such that the user device can communicate with a primary network node and a secondary network node, the secondary network node supporting a plurality of cells The network node includes: receiving logic operative to receive a configuration indicating that the cell supported by the secondary network node as a special cell such that it has a predetermined function should be transferred to the plurality of cells Another one of the change request; the transfer logic operable to respond to the change request, transmitting the secondary network node modification and the secondary network node joining the request to the secondary network node; wherein the receiving logic is Operating to receive radio resource configuration information indicative of a change in a cell configured to be in the particular cell of the secondary network node; and the transmitting logic is operative to be responsive to receipt of the radio information configuration information, The transmission radio resource connection reconfiguration request is sent to the user equipment, and is indicated to the secondary network node when the reconfiguration process is completed.